Nov30

Doujinshi in Japan & Madoka Translation

by Komidol on November 30th, 2011 at 6:00 pm
Posted In: Anime, Human Rights & Politics, 日本(JP) Tools・Translations, Japanese Culture, Anime, Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica, 日本(JP) Tools・Translations

So I started doing some doujinshi translation to help my Japanese out a bit.  Needless to say it’s been a tiresome effort.  Though it got me thinking – the acceptance (specifically, sale and distribution) of doujinshi in today’s day and age is a mystical thing.  However, if you know anything about Japanese culture (and you can easily learn what I’m referring to by checking out my last couple of posts), it’s actually not all that surprising that Japan allows it.  In fact, the whole concept is really simple.

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Nov27

I am an American Japanese-student in Japan #3: Education

by Komidol on November 27th, 2011 at 6:00 pm
Posted In: IRL, 日本(JP) Tools・Translations, Japanese Culture

So to wrap up this little series of “I am an American Japanese-student” (A tribute to Azrael’s old Outpost Nine article series “I am an English-teacher in Japan”), I decided to share my current perspective on my experience with Japanese education.  I’ve been alluring to this in the past two articles, so here it is!  It’s too bad I didn’t update more (damn not even weekly – I’ma regret that), because there were plenty of weekly examples of differences both entertaining and worth remembering.

Here’s a couple for your own amusement.

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Nov26

I am an American Japanese-student in Japan #2: A Time and A Place for Everything

by Komidol on November 26th, 2011 at 2:42 pm
Posted In: Anime, IRL, 日本(JP) Tools・Translations, Japanese Culture

If there’s anything I’ve learned about Japanese culture, it’s that there is a time and a place for everything.  The language doesn’t just have ~9 different levels of politeness on how to ask a question, its also supports the strict social norms for not asking about people’s individual thoughts, ideas, or emotions.  The way you learn the language and how education is taught also supports that.  In fact, the whole society (though not exclusive to Japan, it is especially true in Japan) has a system of what is more or less expected of you to do and say at specific intervals.

And of course, foreigners are expected to know nothing of what is expected in those times and places.

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Nov25

I am an American Japanese-student in Japan #1: Guilt and Individual Morals versus Shame and Collective Standards

by Komidol on November 25th, 2011 at 5:02 pm
Posted In: Human Rights & Politics, IRL, 日本(JP) Tools・Translations, Japanese Culture

So after living in Japan for 4 months and I think I’ve gotten a very genuine exposure to the education system, daily life, and managing at least some interpersonal-ish relationships (it’s very hard with a language barrier to make Japanese friends, but more on that later.)  As I am always writing about how I have a deep love for the things Japanese culture with regards to what the culture produces / what they allow / how available and modest they always are (to a degree what some people would incorrectly refer to as being a weaboo or Japanophile.), today, I want to write about the things that have more so frustrated me about living here.  AKA – the differences that I understand why they happen, but not necessarily why they are important nor will likely ever accept them at my core being.

So here’s the first in a collection of articles about my experience here in Japan, ending in just over a month.  I think you’ll be very surprised to find that my experience was not very far off from a lot of Japanese stereotypes.

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Jun20

[/g/orgatron] Headphone Guide and Review

by Gorgatron on June 20th, 2011 at 2:08 am
Posted In: Music, Technology

So, you want great headphones. You are not sure what to get or how much you should invest. I am going to inform you a bit about higher grade audio knowledge known as “audiophila” and give some reviews of some equipment I’ve had/have.

Some of you may ask, “Why should I get these expensive headphones? My skullcandy’s work great…”

This is a common question.  Let me answer in a few ways for you.

1: Skullcandys are a terrible piece of crap.  They are for hipster 12 year olds.

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May20

Summer Heat Wave 2k11: 大帝国 Daiteikoku

by Komidol on May 20th, 2011 at 3:50 am
Posted In: Visual Novels・Franchises, Eroge, (Alice Soft) Daiteikoku, Visual Novels・Franchises, Eroge

 

 

What a fucking baller.

 

 

 

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May18

Summer Heat Wave 2k11: Dog Days (ドッグデイズ)

by Komidol on May 18th, 2011 at 4:52 am
Posted In: Anime, Anime, Dog Days

In a galaxy far, far, away there lies the Kingdom of Biscuit – a large modern kingdom led by a pink-haired charismatic princess, it’s military commanded by the great knight Eclair, and it’s research led by the orange-furred-artillery-tactician Ricotta.

Ever since my adventures through Wanko to Kurasou I’ve never been able to stay away from my beloved dog girls, and Dog Days is no exception.  This is definitely my guilty pleasure for this season…

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Apr27

Shabadabidobopyeah~

by Komidol on April 27th, 2011 at 4:18 pm
Posted In: Anime, Music, Anime, Nichijou 日常, 日本(JP) Tools・Translations

So here are the TV-size lyrics for the Nichijou （日常）OP.  If you suck at Japanese you can put them in a romanji translator or something and try to get lucky.  Maybe I’ll put up the hiragana later.  Separated them by male (blue), female (pink), and both (green) – via thisguy.  Just figured I’d let you guys know the full version seems to be out.  For the record, the video is the full version and the lyrics below are the TV size, so they won’t match up for the entire song.

「ヒャダインのカカカタ☆カタオモイ-C」
作詞・作曲・編曲・歌：ヒャダイン

たった今初めて気付いた (恋に落ちたのだな)
24時間 キミ・キミ・キミ (意識せざるを得ません)

なんか (なんか) いつもと違うキミと (二人)
ぎこちない会話 まさか (リョウオモイ？) いやカタオモイ！
やばい 視線合っちゃった

なになに？ このドキドキ？ (シャバ ダバ ディビ デュワ バッディー イェイ！)
思考回路 グチャグチャ混線 (ダバ ディビ ドゥビ イェイ！)
こんなこと初めてだよ 熱でもあるのかな？

急転直下 いらっしゃった恋心 (あっちゅうま 顔発火で 真っ赤っかー)
バババカな手が震えるぞ (これが俗に言う恋なの？)
ヤヤヤっちゃった 会話噛みまくり (気まずい沈黙 まみむめも)
キミの (キミの) 気持ち知りたいよ
カカカタ☆カタオモイ

初恋 (いつもの通学路)
ピカピカ光る (I will fall in love)
空も飛べそうさ
カカカタ☆カタオモイ

I’ll try to have some reviews up in a couple days, finals and such.

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